Friday, June 15, 2012

Fire calls for caution and collections

If you live in the Springs, you surely inhaled smoke early Friday morning as the result of the High Park fire that has burned 50,000 acres and displaced more than 3,000 people.

Today, a fire alert was issued for Colorado Springs residents, which will stay in effect until weather and fuel conditions show improvements. A number of burn restrictions and bans will apply during said time.

"We continually sample fuel moistures in the city and current conditions are very serious," said Christina Randall, Wildfire Mitigation Administrator for the Colorado Springs Fire Department, in a release. She noted that dry fuels and above normal temperatures have increased the fire risk.

Low precipitation is also to blame in the fire danger Colorado Springs is facing. The release adds that the city's vegetation is extremely dry. Trees and brush are at critically low moisture levels which make them vulnerable to an ignition.

Fire Marshal Brett Lacey called citizens to take extra precautions since “we are in the height of wildfire season.”

Since many people were displaced by the blaze up north, Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado will conduct a food drive on Tuesday, June 19 at their warehouse located on Constitution Avenue, half a mile from Powers Boulevard at 2605 Preamble Point.

The food collected will immediately be sent to the Food Bank of Larimar County where more than 3,000 people are waiting for help.